FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Supreme Court of Kentucky voted to elect Deputy Chief Justice Debra Hembree Lambert the seventh chief justice of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. She will begin a four-year term Jan. 6, 2025.
"Chief Justice-elect Lambert is a hard-working, dedicated and experienced member of the Kentucky Court of Justice, having served as a Family Court judge, Court of Appeals judge and justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court," said Laurance B. VanMeter, chief justice of the Commonwealth. "Altogether, she has served as a judge or justice for more than 17 years. I am confident that Chief Justice-elect Lambert will lead the Judicial Branch with integrity and ensure the efficient and fair administration of justice for this great commonwealth."
Lambert was elected as a Supreme Court justice in Nov. 2018 from the 3rd Supreme Court District, which consists of 25 counties. She leads the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health, which works to address mental health needs, substance use disorder and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
She is also the first woman to serve as chief justice in Kentucky.
"I am both humbled and honored to have been elected by my colleagues to serve as the chief justice for the next four years," Lambert said. "I know it is certainly no small task to lead the Judicial Branch of government. Our judges, clerks and administrative employees handle large dockets and special programs with great efficiency."
"While it may be notable that I will be the first woman to serve as chief justice in Kentucky, I am most proud to be a small-town kid from the mountains of eastern Kentucky who has had a lot of support and encouragement along the way."
Lambert spent four years on the Kentucky Court of Appeals before coming to the Supreme Court. She previously was a Circuit Judge/Family Court division for the 28th Judicial Circuit, consisting of Lincoln, Pulaski and Rockcastle counties, which then-Gov. Paul E. Patton elected her to in 1999.
Lambert created the first Drug Court in the area while a Family Court judge. She also volunteers as a certified suicide prevention trainer.
The Bell County native has a bachelor's degree from Eastern Kentucky University and went on to graduate from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1989. She practiced law in Mount Vernon, Kentucky, serving as assistant commonwealth's attorney and city attorney of Mount Vernon. Lambert resides in Pulaski County with her husband, Joseph Sharpe, and is the mother of two sons.
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